Is someone born wicked or do they become that way?

Above; our cinema selfie.

Today, I went with my daughter to see a little movie called Wicked. Although we’re not into musicals, we still enjoyed watching the movie. It is a cinematic showstopper and I agree with the linked Ben Shapiro’s review, though, I would (and did) actually take a ten year old to see it.

I listened to Ben’s review because I found his musical insight helpful and I also enjoyed Amala Ekpunobi’s more political and philosophical take. Hers was in keeping with the original theme of the movie. As per the title of this post, the movie asks if one is born wicked, or if they become that way. Please note, this post does contain some spoilers.

Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, the green skinned, so called wicked witch. The actress made the headlines for crying in her interviews and talking about her ethnicity. Along with her co star, Ariana Grande, she has been quite widely mocked. However, come awards time, like Ben also says, I feel she deserves to win big. Her talent is phenomenal.

Ariana Grande, who is a pop idol to many girls, plays Glinda with a certain awareness of the openly superficial and spoilt nature of this so called good witch. I felt the ambiguity over the narrative of her goodness versus the supposed wickedness of Elphaba.

As we watch Elphaba accompany her beloved younger sister to Shiz University (funny name), we see how she’s shunned by her peers but very quickly taken on board by Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh. This is another theme of the movie; of being cautious when it comes to trusting others. Elphaba has reason to be mistrustful as she has been ostracised since being a baby and yet she is still hopeful enough into believing her teacher sees the real her.

Elphaba is such a complex and layered character. I absolutely loved Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal. Elphaba has gone through life, having to develop a strong personality and become independent. This is a universal and classic theme that we have seen in the arts since the publication of stories like Jane Eyre. Where those lacking the superficial traits that seem to impress society at large, experience isolation and you could say, certain disadvantages. However, in Jane’s case she is such an inherently good and decent person, that she comes out winning in the end. She marries the love of her life and experiences what is truly important. So, what of Elphaba? Well, within her lies the power to change Oz. Will she do so for the better and if she does, will the narrative change? Or will it remain that Glinda, stereotypically feminine and beautiful is renowned as good, whilst the edgy and mysterious Elphaba, is to be forever tainted as wicked?

Glinda is in awe of Elphaba but she’s also wrapped up in her own self importance. She lacks the ability to think critically and is entirely dependent on the validation of others. So, she has a relatively easy path in life, compared to Elphaba who has big decisions to make. Her life has been interesting since her birth, rejected by her father, raised by an animal friend of the family (as animals are classed as human- like in Wicked). She goes to Shiz University to accompany the father’s favourite daughter, Nessarose, who is in a wheelchair. Nessarose also has her own journey as she discovers her independence.

Elphaba is repeatedly told to shut up by her father, who is not actually her biological father. People stop in their tracks to not just stare but laugh at Elphaba. She dresses all in black as if to embrace the separation of herself from the rest of the bright coloured world. She also lacks the cunning of someone like Glinda, who acts more feminine knowing it pleases others. So, Elphaba is society’s outcast for various reasons, going beyond the colour of her skin.

If a person is repeatedly silenced, mocked, labelled as weird, dangerous or even wicked, then will they even have the incentive to be anything else? Because if good has not embraced them, why or how should they embrace good?

Elphaba goes to meet the wizard of Oz. He is of course played by legendary, Jeff Goldblum and there lies even more complexity. The wizard is not a mere stranger to Elphaba, although she meets him because she wants the animals that once taught at the university and who are now locked up, to be free. She needs the wizard’s help but he is not all that he seems.

The movie, as in Wicked Part One, ends with Elphaba learning the truth about the wizard’s intentions and the situation with the animals. She flies into the sky singing, Defying Gravity. It’s really the world versus Elphaba, Oz versus Elphaba and we have to wait till the end of next year to see what happens next.

Gregory Maguire, who was inspired by the Wizard of Oz movie and books, wrote the Wicked books. It was he who asked the central question of nature versus nurture, of being born wicked or becoming so. He was influenced by the tragic case of James Bulger, who was only two years old when he was abducted and killed by two ten year olds.

What were the killers’ personalities and motives? They did a very evil thing but were they born evil? Or did they become that way? Can they change?

Let’s think about others whose situation is even less clear cut. Those who haven’t murdered but are, say, political leaders responsible for some big and hard decisions. They may be labelled evil or wicked. Or called Hitler or a fascist.

These names and labels have an emotional impact on people. They affect the public narrative and discourse. They affect the future. So, in Wicked the theme of whose narrative is to be trusted, is a relevant one.

These are some of my thoughts around the movie, Wicked, that I am so glad I watched. It is due to be released on streaming services in America and England this week also. As I wrote earlier, I found Ben and Amala’s reviews to be helpful and so I have included them both. As with my post, they also contain some spoilers, so be aware.

Thanks for reading and if you like you can click on the tab below. (FYI Jonathan Bailey is the Bridgerton dreamboat who plays the Prince in Wicked. I am being a little facetious in my objectification of him. Having said that; phwoar).